By S Ramesh | Posted: 07 July 2010 1257 hrs
SINGAPORE: Two companies will pioneer a new training initiative for persons with disabilities.
They will operate Centres for Training and Integration (CTI) to enhance the employability and job readiness of these people in two sectors- call centres and hospitality.
The programme's being coordinated by the Enabling Employers Network, which helps people with disabilities get jobs.
Double degree holder Steve Tee Wee Leong is visually impaired. But that has not dampened the 28-year-old's drive to master skills in call centre operations to get a job.
Mr Tee says: "Our system has enhanced voice synthesizers where the software reads out whatever is on the screen. We also use enlarged fonts which enables me to read whatever is on the screen. All the call centres are pretty much re-engineered to our needs. As each of us in the call centre have different kinds of visual needs and so all the systems have been well organised and catered to our needs."
Eureka Call Centre Systems and Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre will pioneer the training and integration centres.
Launching the two centres, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong says these centres will provide specific skills training for the disabled from special education schools and voluntary welfare organisations, after which they will undergo on-the-job training.
Mr Gan says with this, more persons with disabilities can be equipped with relevant vocational skills through on-the-job training and contribute to the workforce.
He urged more companies to offer employment opportunities for trained persons with disabilities as this would help them attain self-reliance and integrate more fully into society.
Mr Gan noted that the Eureka Call Centre Systems started its own initiative in 2007 to modify its call centre to facilitate employment of persons with disabilities.
The initiative has since paid off with more than 10 people with disabilities being trained and hired at the call centre since last year.
Holiday Inn Singapore employs persons with disabilities in many of its operations, from housekeeping, laundry to F&B services.
The centres will run for four years and train 150 people with disabilities for other hotels and call centres.
The Enabling Employers Network also plans to introduce a special award to reward employers who have been supportive in training people with disabilities and giving them jobs.
Shantha de Silva, chairman, Enabling Employers Network, says: "They have been really loyal to us and when they get an opportunity they are diligent in what they do and they are thankful for the opportunities and for us we see them as very committed employees without distractions.
"It's about making it known, making it public and for us to act as ambassadors in our industries and share our knowledge and experience with our colleagues. Then people will quietly overcome their biasness about people and employ them."
To recognise employers who are supportive in training and employing people with disabilities, the Enabling Employers Network plans to introduce a special award.
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